College students look forward to a long spring break
March 24, 2010
Madelain Tigano- The Corsair
A salty aroma fills the air as the hot rays beat down, tanning exposed flesh. Booze and sun oil lie next to oversized towels of the vacationers who have flocked to the warmth of the shore to release their stress in a week of freedom.
Spring break: it’s what most college students look forward to every year. It offers the ability to hang loose with friends, make new ones, take a trip, acquire extra work hours or just enjoy a break from the books.
Students are already making plans for PJC’s spring break from March 29 to April 4.
“My friend and I might go on a road trip to Orlando and Miami,” said pre-law student Micha Mesuri. “I’ve never been to Miami, so it should be fun.”
Brennan Decker, a pre-pharmacy student, said he is “probably working more hours at Java Junkies in Navarre to make extra money for the summer.” But he also plans to hit one of the local beaches.
Jet skiing in the waters of Perdido Key is criminal justice major Josh Hatten’s plan. Unlike previous spring breaks, he’s not going out of town to experience one of the most popular destinations this time of year.
“Panama City Beach parties harder than we do,” Hatten said.
However, our neighboring beach plans to calm down its 2010 spring break season. It won’t be partnering with MTV like previous years. The music-television network has provided entertainment and televised the partying of Panama City Beach in the past.
“I think mtvU has managed to paint us with a big black brush,” Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst said in a news article. Oberst also said mtvU events brought in too many unruly spring breakers.
But Cassandra Williams, a criminal psychology major, doesn’t have the beach in mind. The trip she has planned is much more unusual.
“For spring break I am going to find my brother that I’ve never met,” she said. “I will be spending the whole week in Anniston, Ala.”
Williams explains that her older brother is actually her half-brother from her dad’s side.
“I found him on MySpace. My younger brother and I are going to see him,” Williams said. “We are going to spend the week getting to know each other and going out places.”
Pirate baseball player Terry McClinton said he has baseball games throughout the week. Yet he knows what would be the ultimate spring break.
“My ideal spring break would be in Key West, fishing the flats with a few good friends,” McClinton said.
Milton hosts St. Patrick’s Day blood drive
March 16, 2010
Cole Simmons - The Corsair
The Student Government Association will be hosting a blood drive on St. Patrick’s Day between 9 AM and 1 PM by Milton Campus’ building 4200. All blood types are sorely needed, with emphasis on O – Negative. T-shirts and refreshments will be given to donors, furnished by Northwest Florida Blood Services. At 12:10, “37 Keys to College Success” will be presented by Andy Masters, after which lunch will be served to all attending students, fifty of whom will recieve a copy of Masters’ newest publication. While Student Activity Advisor Butch Branch was unavailable for comment, he extends the invitation to everyone-after all, what’s a few pints between friends on Paddy’s Day?
Lumberjack festival continues despite program cut
March 16, 2010
Nick Alford-The Corsair
PJC held the 22nd annual Northwest Florida Forestry Conclave and Lumberjack Festival March 6 on its Milton campus. The festival hosted an assortment of events, including the Axe Throw and the Pulpwood Toss.
The festivities started out at 8 a.m. with a Pole Fell contest, in which competitors guess which direction a tree will fall before chopping it down with an axe. The rest of the day was filled with other brawny lumberjack competitions accompanied by live music, food and art displays enjoyed by the almost 2000 people that attended.
Exhibits at the festival included The Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, who had an exhibit of live owls and vultures rescued in the area. In addition, wood sculptor Jeff Wheelock showed his skills at the event by a demonstration of chainsaw sculpting. There were also displays by the Florida Park Police and Florida Division of Forestry.
Although PJC is discontinuing its Forestry Technologies program this year, the event itself will continue to take place as it has for the last 22 years. According to Conrad Brewer, recently retired coordinator for the PJC Forestry Program, it was discontinued because of low attendance and general lack of demand.
“There are a number of mills that are no longer in business.” said Brewer “There are fewer places for employment in the forestry profession in this area.”
Currently, less than 5 people are enrolled in the forestry program at PJC this year, and they will be allowed to finish out the end of this fall semester. The program has been a part of PJC’s curriculum at Milton since the campus opened in 1985. At that time, there were at least seven forestry mills in the area around Northwest Florida.
“We do still have two paper mills in Cantonment and Brewton,” said Brewer, “But the construction lumber industry is at the bottom … no one is building homes, so lumber is in low demand.”
Lumber Prices in the United States have peaked this year as a result of short supply. When the housing market dipped early this decade, lumber production in the U.S. dropped an estimated 45% between 2005 and 2009, according to U.S. Census Bureau industrial report.
Milton helps raise awareness
February 8, 2010
National Wear Red Day was Feb. 5, and many on the Milton campus showed their support by wearing Red proudly either by wearing red shirts or red pins. National Wear Red Day is a day to raise awareness around the country about heart disease and the many harmful affects it has.
In order to raise money for the American Heart Association, members of the AHA Heart Walk Team sold red pins for $5 each. The Milton campus also had mini manicures offered in building 4300 from 9 a.m. to noon to raise money for AHA.
Red Friday showed people how important it is to raise awareness about heart disease and support the American Heart Association.
Did you know that:
- Women underestimate their CVD rise
- Nearly 1 in 2 women dies from CVD
- About 1 in 30 women dies from breast cancer
- Women are protected from CVD at younger ages by natural estrogen
- After menopause, women are more likely than men to die after a heart attack
- Women are more likely to have a heart attack without chest pain
Above information is from an e-mail by Butch Branch, L.I.F.E. Center Coordinator.
College Goal Sunday Coming Feb. 22
February 18, 2009
Corsair Staff Reports
The free event is 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 22 at PJC’s three campuses.
· Pensacola campus, Baroco Center for Science & Advanced Technology Computer Lab, Building 21, 1000 College Blvd.
· Warrington campus, William Simon Boyd Building, Computer Lab, Building 3100, 5555 West Highway 98
· Milton campus, Student Affairs/Administration, Building 4200, 5988 Highway 90 On College Goal Sunday, new and returning students and families receive free expert help filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form for 2009-2010.
Roll Some Logs at the Forestry Festival
February 18, 2009
Corsair Staff Reports
Pensacola Junior College presents the 21st annual Northwest Florida Forestry Conclave & Lumberjack Festival Saturday, March 7, at the Milton campus.
The exciting free event is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features fun for the whole family including adult forestry skills competitions, all day; children’s events, 9 to 11 a.m.; bluegrass music, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; food, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and a fire-fighting helicopter water drop at noon.
While the supply lasts, festival-goers also get to select free tree seedlings from a variety of species and receive information from experts on planting and proper care.
Adult and teen competitions include knife and axe throwing, bow sawing, Jack and Jill crosscut, log roll, pole felling and more. Prizes are awarded for each event.
